As a form of escapism, video games are great, aren’t they? Especially those that you can lose track of time in, immersing yourself in the vast open worlds and array of side quests. Yes, I know I’m supposed to be saving the world right now, but I’m busy playing cards and riding my horse, thank you very much!
The best of these games are the ones that actually reward you for going off the beaten track, because there’s so much to find in every direction. If you’re looking for your next colossal adventure, where you can pick a direction and find plenty to do, lost in the world around you, these are the ten best games to do just that in 2026.
1
Grand Theft Auto 5
With GTA 6 coming in just a few short months, now’s the perfect time to get back into GTA 5. (Or play it for the first time to get ready for the sequel!) Even though it’s 13 years old at this point, its single-player component is still one of the best realistic open worlds out there.
Exploring off the beaten track in Los Santos will lead you to countless memorable encounters, from cults and UFOs to the military base, Epsilon Program, hidden locations, and more. The world feels so alive, just roaming as a pedestrian is a delight.
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2
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the epitome of a game that rewards you for ignoring the main story, because around every single corner, you’ll find a dungeon, optional boss, or NPC who can provide you with powerful items.
Nailing your build is one of the most important parts of any Souls game, and you can only do that with stronger equipment, most of which you’ll only find by exploring. So as soon as you emerge from the Cave of Knowledge, press on until you unlock Torrent, then go find some trouble. Don’t tackle Stormveil Castle until you’ve conquered Limgrave. You’ll be glad you did.
3
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
While this entry could apply to Breath of the Wild too, we’ve opted for Tears of the Kingdom simply because it’s considerably bigger. With both the depths and the sky islands to explore, alongside the Hyrulian overworld, Link’s latest outing tells you what needs to be done, then lets you gallivant off in whatever direction you like.
While Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t have a quest log, it has loads of things to discover naturally. A plethora of towns await, as well as hidden caves, shrines, boss fights, and areas that you’ll encounter as a complete surprise but will be some of the most memorable moments you’ll have. Did we mention the dragons?
4
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is my favorite game of all time, and while part of that is because of how engrossing the story is, it’s also because the world of Velen and Skellige (and Toussaint, if you venture into the Blood & Wine expansion) holds plenty of mysteries. In theory, Geralt should be in a hurry to find Yennefer, then rescue Ciri, but instead, he’s off playing cards and slaying monsters.
One thing The Witcher 3 has always been lauded for, however, is its side quests. Characters like the Bloody Baron and the Crones of Crookback Bog help enrich these entirely optional adventures that are praised as being more complex and better written than plenty of main storylines in other games. One tip: in the settings, turn off the ability to see icons for points of interest around the map. If you leave it on, the game becomes more of a checklist, going from one to the next, rather than discovering things naturally.
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5
Forza Horizon 6
Racing games are typically either fairly linear, where you go from one race to the next, or open-world but without much to find, as the joy comes from simply cruising the roads at your own pace. The Forza Horizon series bridges the gap between the two, and Forza Horizon 6 has such a jam-packed world that everywhere you go, you’ll find things of interest.
While the main story — completing the festival events — is fantastic (you get to race a giant gundam!), you can find loads of special cars by exploring elsewhere. Barn finds are vintage cars that have been abandoned and need restoring, while treasure cars are good-to-go as is. Not to mention the 400 collectibles split across XP boards and mascots, the houses you can buy and customize, and all the completely optional races and challenges.
6
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is all about exploration. The ability to fast travel is highly limited, and while you can, in effect, slow travel by climbing aboard a wagon, these journeys can be interrupted, and in-game time passes no matter what. The game wants you to take your time, exploring every nook and cranny it has to offer on foot, and whether you’re in Vermund or Battahl, there’s a lot to find.
This is essentially the perfect game for Skyrim fans looking for something vaguely familiar, because while combat and the pawn system are unique, the way the game handles its world and side quests is reminiscent of Bethesda’s epic. You’ll encounter all manner of characters, enemies, and secrets when investigating off the beaten track, plenty of them involving optional endeavors and requests. It’s a stunning world, and experiencing it at your own pace is part of the fun.
7
Fallout 4
On the other hand, Fallout 4’s world is stunning in a different way. This is post-apocalyptic Boston, Massachusetts, and people, monsters, or robots that want to kill you are around every corner. Much like Geralt and his quest to find Ciri, however, in Fallout 4 you’re in a hurry to find your son. But your son will have to wait, because you have some guns to shoot.
The Fallout series is renowned for letting players reach their destination any way they like, and while there will always be an end goal in mind, wandering aimlessly is how you discover many of the game’s quirks. Vaults are often the most interesting discoveries, along with other settlements, creature lairs, and bandit hideouts, all of which usually have powerful weapons and armor within.
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8
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes place in 1403, in the Kingdom of Bohemia, aka what is now known as the Czech Republic. You are Henry of Skalitz, a soldier serving your father and seeking revenge for the death of your mother. This is a game that stands apart due to its depth of immersion — and how much you can discover by simply paying attention.
Eavesdrop on some NPCs in a village and you may hear about an opportunity elsewhere. Leave the main road and you’ll find a forest or ruin hiding treasure. Not every location will house something interesting, but that makes it all the more rewarding when something does. Because Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 aims to simulate a living world, in a similar manner to Dragon’s Dogma 2, the joy is in the journey, not the destination.
9
Valheim
Valheim doesn’t have a main story, per se, but it does encourage you to focus on summoning and killing the bosses in each of its regions. Ultimately, this should be your main goal, and becoming powerful enough to achieve this will take plenty of exploration.
There are three merchants to discover in Valheim, each of whom offers powerful items, alongside all manner of points of interest. Crypts and burial chambers, abandoned villages full of enemies, and discovering resources to improve your equipment is essential. Not to mention the fact that Valheim’s world is treacherous, so taking the time to discover every nook and cranny to find the safest route through a biome is highly recommended.
10
Sable
Finally, we have Sable. Calling this a “massive” open-world is definitely a stretch, and it doesn’t really have a “main story” per se. Even so, this severely underrated indie deserves more attention. This is solely an open-world puzzle game, where you’ll venture forth into a desert-like world to discover secrets.
It’s essentially a coming-of-age story, where the protagonist must prove herself by solving puzzles using environmental clues and talking to NPCs. There are a few small side quests, and you’ll only spend a fraction of the time in Sable as you will with the other games on this list. But if exploration is your thing, and you want a beautiful, handcrafted world to do it in, this is the one for you.
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